Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): u6-u8 Handling and Footwork Week 1 Block 1

Basic Technique (60 mins)

Discuss basics:

Set Position - feet slightly wider than shoulder width, weight on front of feet, knees bent, hips back, head forwards, hands and elbow in front of body approx a balls width apart with palms facing.

Start Position - ito line and up the line. Ball > body > middle of the goal. Minimum of 1 step off the goal line

Hand Shapes:

W - maintain set position, hands "attack" the ball. Catch more with fingers and thumbs > "soft hands, strong wrists". Head acts as 2nd barrier. Use W shape as "window" to see the ball. Make "hands big" > spread fingers, cover as much of the ball as you can with your hands.

Cup - maintain set position for shots to midrift. Feet can go wider for slightly lower or a small jump for slightly higher. "Attack ball" with hands > little fingers touch, tuck elbows in to "create a corridor with the arms and guide the ball into the body". Keep head forwads and chest over the ball until the ball is secure.

Scoop - from set position "attack the ball with the head and hands". "Create a ramp with the arms" and guide the ball into the chest. For shots outside the line of the body > "attack the ball with the closest foot" driving the head and hands towards the ball. Create ramp with arms and guide ball into chest. Secure the ball then drive forwards off closest foot towards the floor.

Allow goalkeeper to build confidence in techniques though throws serves into predetemined areas of the body.

>Spend 5 minutes on each technique.

> Progress to random serves into the body and just wide of the body. Discuss footwork into shot > moving closest foot first > keeping head central > preparing hands early > finishing off in set position with ball in hands

Additional coaching points:

> Keep eyes on ball from attacker all the way into body

> see ball early and make a decision on correct save to make

> prepare hands early to make the save. Watch ball into hads (prepared) over final 2-3 yards.

Angles & Footwork 2

Goalkeeper starts central. Server gives command to move, keeper moves into line and up the line to make first save then uses power step to move acroos to server on opposite angle to make 2nd save.

Repeat on both sides

Power Step > pivot on foot closest to ball > cross over with foot furthest away > turning head then squaring up to ball to move into line and up the line early > move "shortest, quickest route" across the goal